Bagging machine with trough leading to an apertured rotatable plate having bag spreading means



Sept. 26, 1950 E. D. AUSTIN 2,523,673

' BAGGING MACHINE WITH TROUGH LEADING TO AN APERTURED ROTATABLE PLATE HAVING BAG SPREADING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1947 gwuam bo'b 1 0. fiuST/N,

Sept. 26, 1950 AUSTIN 2,523,673

BAGGING MACHINE WITH TROUGH LEADING TO AN APERTU D ROTATABLE PLATE HAVING BAG SPREADING MEANS Filed June 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 swam M" Patented Sept. 26, 1950 ING TO AN APERTURED ROTATABLE PLATE HAVING BAG SPREADING MEANS Elmer Dale Austin, Umatilla, Fla. Application June 10, 1947, Serial No. 753,765

(01. awe-59) 9 Claims.

1 This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for holding bags while being filled, and

particularly to apparatus for holding a plurality of net or woven fiber bags and for directing-citrus fruit or the like into said bags to fill the same.

One object of this invention is to provide a device which will hold open the mouths of -a plurality of bags, and successively topresent each open bag to a trough down which citrus fruit the like which may be transported readily to various locations where the fruit is sorted and packed and' which is simple to'eperate and inexpensive to construct.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bagging machine which automatically prohibitsf-ruit from rolling into the bag while a'full bag is being removed from the filling trough and an empty .bag is being placed in position for filling. U i

Other objects and advantages of this invention "will become apparent as the description proceeds and is considered in connection with the accom-- panying drawings wherein is illustrated one embodiment of this invention in which:

Fig. l is a top view of the improved bagging machine embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof and showing I the rotating table to which a plurality of bags to be filled with citrus fruit or the like are hung and the relation of the delivery tray thereto.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the rotating table embodied in this invention.

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the bag holding mechanism in posi- '-'-'tion to hold a bag with the mouth open, and the mechanism for holding the table from turning.

Fig. 5 is a cross section therethrough showing the bag holding member, and taken on the line 25-45 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numerals 6, "l, 8 and 9' represent openings in a circular plate It through which fruit drops into suspended awaiting bags I l-. The plate it constitutes a rotating table for supporting the bags.

The plate I is rotatably mounted or-journaled trough through the I opening 2 upon a suitable upright shaft [2, and is held in a vertical position by a collar 13 (Fig. 4) which .may contain any type of anti-friction bearing desired. It is to be understood that the plate [-0 is adapted to rotate freely around the shaft l2.

A plate or base I4 is afiixed to the shaft I2 by a lock collar t5 and is made vertically adjustable by adjustment of the collar, so that it can be moved up and down the shaft [2 for the purpose of supporting the bottoms of various sized bags I l. The

plate [4 preferably is made of heavy sheet metal but can be made of any material desired. The shaft I2 maybe pointed on its lower end, as shown, to be driven into the ground for supporting the: same or may carry a-base or the like (not shown) which supports the bagging machine in its entirety in an upright position.

Carried upon the upper end of the shaft I23 and locked thereto by a collar It or other suitable: means is one end IQ of a V-shaped trough or de livery tray ll provided with a central opening; !8 slightly larger in diameter than, and which coincides respectively with, the openings '6, 1, 8i and 9 in therotating plate 10. The trough IT is inclined at a slight angle downward toward the shaft i2 so that the fruit will roll down the It and thence through one of the openings 6 to 9 in the plate It into an awaiting bag II. The opposite end of the tray I? is supported in any suitable manner to hold the tray in this inclined position.

The tray ll has a bearing bracket l9 fixed to the forward end thereof by means of which the tray is fixed on the shaft l2 by the collar l6. A frame 20 is mounted by trunnions 24 on the bearing bracket [9, which frame 20 has a downwardly depending block bar 2|, approximately equal in length to the inside of the delivery tray ll, as shown in Fig. l. The frame 20 is pivoted for vertical swinging movement relative to the tray l1. in

The endof the frame 20, opposite the block bar 2|, has a downwardly depending stay pin 22 whichv ooacts with and enters selectively into holes 23 spaced circumferentially and adjacent the axis position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the stay pin 22 will engage one of the holes 23 and lock the rotating plate l9 in position with-one of theopenings 6, l, B or 9 in juxtaposition below the opening 18 in the tray ll. When a bag is filled. and it is desired to place an empty bag in position for filling, the block bar 2| is moved dow nward by a handle 25 into the tray ll, as shown.

angers in Fig. 1, thereby stopping the movement of the fruit down the incline of the tray, and at the same time the stay pin 22 is moved out of the hole 23 in plate iii allowing the plate to rotate until an empty bag 5 l is carried beneath the hole [8, whence the block bar 2! is again raised into the upper position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, where the filling process is repeated.

Turning now to a detailed description of the bag holding device, numerals 26 and 21 (Fig. 3) designate downwardly depending bag hooks welded or otherwise rigidly aihxed to the underside of plate Hi adjacent each of the openings 6, I, 8 and 9 as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Disposed radially inward from the bag hooks 26 and 2'! and on the opposite side of the respective openings 6, l, 8 and S, and likewise on the underside of the plate 16, ar lugs 28 and 29 to which a second set of bag hooks 30 and 31 are pivotally attached by means of cross rod 32 or other suitable means. ihe bag hooks 3B and 3i are jointed together by means of the cross rod 32 fixed thereto which provides a uniform swinging movement for these hooks. The set of hooks 30 and 3t are right angular in shape, as shown in Fig. 4. All of the hooks 25, 2?, 30 and 3| are provided with hooks 33 upon their ends, for engaging the tops of the bag H as shown in Fig. 4.

Pivotally carried by the hook Z8 is a hand lever .34. A connecting bar or link 35 is pivotally connected between the lever 34 and the pivoted hook 3B. A tension spring 3%} is connected to the hook 30 by means of a pin 37 and has the opposite end connected to the underside of the plate ill by means of an eyelet 38 or the like, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. It is to be noted that this spring is of the customary toggle action and swings past the center of the cross bar 32 to hold the hooks 35 and Si either open'to receive an empty bag or remove a full bag as th case may be, or closed to hold the mouth of the bag open, in a toggle or snap action.

The operation of this device is as follows: Bags H are fixed to the underside of plate iii by first raising or pulling out the lever 3 to a substan tially horizontal position. This throws the bag hooks 3D and 3! outward or away from the shaft 52, to the left in Fig. l. An empty bag then is hooked onto the hooks $3 or" the four bag hooks 26, 2'5, 30 and 3E. The lever 34 then is pulled down, which throws the hooks (iii and 3! inward toward the shaft i2. This in turn tightens the bag it at four corners firmly onto the hooks 26, 27!, 3t? and 3!. The bag thus supported from the underside of the plate I0 is directly below one of the openings 5, l, t or 9. Three other bags are similarly placed on the remaining hooks adjacent each of the other openings.

Fruit or other articles to be bagged then is moved by gravity down the inclined tray l1, through the opening l8 and thence through one of the openings 6, i, ii or 9, positioned therebelow, until the bag is filled.

After a bag is filled, the handle 25 is pulled down as shown in Fig. 1. This causes the block bar 2! to move into the tray ll as a bridge, and it stops further movement of the fruit. At the same time, the stay pin 22 is pulled out of the hole 23 which permits plate ill to be rotated until an empty bag is swung into position beneath the hole i8 in th tray Ill After the bag is in position the handle 25 then is swung upward, removing the block bar 2| from the tray and thus permitting the fruit or articles to be bagged to move down the inclined tray and through the opening l8. At th same time, the stay pin 22 again is set in one of the holes 23 to hold the plate ill from rotating.

While the invention is illustrated and described in one embodiment, variations and changes may be made therein, except as specified in the claims.

I claim:

1. A bagging machine comprising an inclined chute tray having a delivery portion at one end thereof, a carriage adjacent the tray, a block bar mounted for movement downwardly into the tray in position to keep material from reaching the delivery portion, means mounting the carriage for rotation relative to the tray, means mounted on the carriage in position for supporting a bag thereon to hold the bag in receiving position relative to the tray delivery portion, and means connected with the block bar for locking the carriage against rotation in a receiving position when the block bar is moved outwardly of the tray.

2. A bagging machine comprising an inclined chute tray having a delivery portion at one end thereof, a carriage adjacent the tray, means mounting the carriage for rotation relative thereto, means mounted on the carriage in position for supporting a bag thereon to hold the bag in receiving position relative to the tray delivery portion, means for locking the carriage against rotation in a receiving position, and means operatively connected with said locking means and mounted for downward movement into the chute for blocking the movement of material through the tray to the discharge portion thereof when said carriage locking means is out of holding relation with the carriage.

3. A bagging machine comprising an inclined delivery tray having a discharge opening adapted to receive therethrough articles to be bagged, an uprightv support affixed to the lower end of the tray, a plate rotatably carried below the inclined tray by the upright support, said plate having openings therein which are adapted to be singularly associated with the openin in the tray, bag supporting means depending from the plate, looking means carried by the upright support adapted to prevent the plate from being moved while the bags are being filled and having means connected therewith to prevent the articles from moving down the tray while the plate is rotated, and a bag bottom. supporting plate carried by the upright support.

4. A bagging machine comprising an inclined delivery tray having an opening therein located adjacent the lower end of the tray, said opening being adapted to receive therethrough articles to be bagged, a vertical upright support affixed to the lower end of the tray, supporting means carried by the support adapted to permit transport of the machine from place to place, a plate rotatably carried below the inclined tray by the upright support, said plate having openings located circumferentially therein in position to be singularly associated with the opening in the tray and through which the articles to be bagged may pass, a frame pivoted adjacent one end to the upright support above the delivery tray, means to prevent rotation of the rotating plate and carried upon one end of the pivoted frame, and a block bar carried upon the opposite end of the frame;

5. A bagging machine comprising an inclined delivery tray having an opening therein located adjacent the lower end of the tray, said opening being adapted to receive therethrough articles to be bagged, a vertical upright support affixed to the lower end of the tray, supporting means carried by the support adapted to permit transport of the machine from place to place, a plate rotatably carried below the inclined tray by the upright support, said plate having openings located circumferentially therein in position to be singularly associated with the opening in the tray and through which the articles to be bagged may pass, a frame pivoted adjacent one end to the upright support above the delivery tray, means to prevent rotation of the rotating plate and carried upon one end of the pivoted frame, a block bar carried upon the opposite end of the frame, a pair of depending bag hooks rigidly affixed to the supporting plate associated with each opening in the plate, a pair of pivoted depending bag hooks associated with each opening in the plate, a bar connecting the pivoted hooks together, an operating lever pivoted to one of the rigid depending bag hooks, a link connecting the lever with the pivoted hooks, a tension spring connected between the pivoted hooks and the supporting plate adapted to move the pivoted hooks from a bag holding to a bag releasing position with a positive snap action, and a vertically adjustable bag bottom supporting means carried upon the vertical upright support.

6. A bagging machine comprising an inclined delivery tray having an opening therein adapted to receive therethrough articles to be bagged, an upright support afiixed to the lower end of the tray, a bag supporting plate rotatably carried by the upright support, a pivoted frame pivotally carried by the upright support, means to prevent rotation of the bag supporting plate carried by one end of the frame, and a block bar carried upon the opposite end of the frame in position to enter the tray and prevent passage of articles therealong to the discharge opening.

7. A bagging machine comprising an inclined delivery chute having a discharge opening adapted to direct articles therefrom for bagging, a bag supporting member rotatably connected with the chute in position to receive articles therefrom, said member having an opening therein, a frame pivotally mounted for swinging movement relative to the chute, a pin carried by the frame in position to enter the opening in the member upon movement of the frame in one direction, and a block bar carried by the frame and in position to enter the chute upon movement of the frame in the opposite direction to prevent passage of articles to the discharge opening.

8. A bagging machine comprising an inclined delivery chute having a discharge opening arranged to, deliver articles therefrom, an upright support, a bag supporting member rotatably mounted on said support in position to receive articles from said discharge opening, a frame pivotally mounted on the upright support, said bag supporting member having an opening therein, a pin fixed to the frame at one end thereof in position to enter the opening upon swinging movement of the frame in one direction to prevent rotation of said bag supporting member, and a transverse block bar carried by the frame in position to enter the chute upon swinging movement of the frame in the opposite direction to prevent passage of articles to the discharge opening.

9. A bagging machine comprising an inclined delivery tray having an opening therein located adjacent the lower end of the tray, said opening being adapted to receive therethrough articles to be bagged, an upright support affixed to the lower end of the tray, a plate rotatably carried by the upright support, said plate having openings therein in position to be associated with the opening in the tray and through which the articles to be bagged may pass, a frame pivoted adjacent one end to the upright support above the delivery tray, means to prevent rotation of the rotating plate and carried upon one end of the pivoted frame, and a block bar carried upon the opposite end of the frame in position to enter the tray and prevent passage of articles therealong to the discharge opening.

ELMER DALE AUSTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 215,502 Bikle May 20, 1879 936,149 McTimmonds Oct. 5, 1909 1,385,498 Schaffer July 26, 1921 1,773,657 White Aug. 19, 1930 2,042,858 Nicolas June 2, 1936 

